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David Bowie Turns 66, Releases First New Song in A Decade, Album to Follow in March

In a wonderful comeback, David Bowie released a video of his first new song in a decade today on his 66th birthday. “Where Are We Now” (see higher quality video on Vimeo here), evokes his late-modern period in Berlin that yielded the classic albums produced by Brian Eno, Low (1977), Heroes, (1977), and Lodger (1979).

It’s a sad song about defiantly facing death and memory made more poignant by the direction of installation artist Tony Oursler. Only at the end of the video do you realize that Bowie, and the silent Bjork (or an amazing Bjork look-alike?), whose head he is sharing shoulders with, have had their faces smooshed by sheer stockings, the way bank robbers used to do. At one point Bjork licks her lips as if to begin singing with Bowie, but the song ends without her voice joining his. Their pinched and grimaced faces say a lot about age and regret.

“Where Are We Now” is the first cut to be released from the upcoming album, The Next Day, first new album in ten years and his 30th studio recording. The album is produced by longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, who was involved in the Bowie classic albums The Man Who Sold The World, Scary Monsters and the Low trilogy.

Bowie has a new website, too, where you can preorder the song and album. Happy Birthday, Bowie! Good to have you back.

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Well I am a long time fan but this was certainly unimpressive. Nothing to take away, sing to yourself later, no lyric to buy into unless you think walking the dead is somehow clever. And the video just a bad drug flashback. Bowie is guilty of falling in love with his own eccentricity and not realizing the iconic pop star he can be. Perhaps this is OK album filler but if he thinks this has single potential he best go back into retirement.

Musicians should write for themselves, not an audience. Falling in love with your own eccentricity (if you are interesting enough to have any) is the point. Bowie has admittedly written albums for chart success (Aladdin Sane, Tonight), however, I can’t imagine he cares one lick for that approach at 66. As far as I am concerned you should be writing the most selfish music at that age.

Every wannabe music critic is chiming in about how this is a return to the days of The Berlin Trilogy. It’s like you all got sent the same press release template to base your posts on. Plus it gives you street cred to acknowledge how cool Bowie was 30 plus years ago.

This song is no more a return than Bowie’s last few releases, sad to say. It’s melancholy and aimless. While I am glad the Bowmeister is back, I had hoped for something better. And it doesn’t require wearing eyeliner and spandex to create compelling music. The Stones, for instance, have demonstrated how to rock hard into your 6th decade and beyond.

Ever the collaborator, perhaps Bowie needs to bring in fresh blood, such as bands like Arcade Fire, to play and write compelling new songs with instead of trying to recapture the long lost Visconti magic of the 70s.